Bento Simplified

Now that you know how to pack a bento lunch, I'd like to convince you how simple it really is.  

Repeat after me:  Bento is easy!

It really is.  If you are a person who 

1. eats dinner    -and-
2. owns a container to store leftovers in

You can make a bento lunch!

First step, eat dinner.  I went with Pineapple Pork Chops and rice:

Second, pack your left-overs in a container.  To show how easy this is, I am using a Pyrex dish I picked up at Winco:

Embellish or garnish as you feel moved.  (This is optional!  You will still get the portion control, budget saving benefits without making faces on your food.  But it is kinda fun.)  Today I was feeling sesame seeds, cilantro, and a quick nori face.

Third, put the lid on and throw it in a paper sack.  Or use a reusable container like this thermal tote from Thirty-One Gifts:

Done!  You are ready to take your bento lunch to work or send it to school with your little one.  Now, wasn't that easy?

If you are inspired to try this yourself, please leave me a comment below.  I would love to hear about your first bento experience!

Happy bento!

Sunny Day Bento

Bento #35 actually got planned out last night in advance. I guess it must be wishful thinking as the dark, wet, cold winter sets in for me to doodle and create a summery bento. Here is the blueprint for today's bento:


And here is the final product:


On the left I have a bed of pearl rice that I cooked up this morning. The grass is made of steamed brocholi (steamed slightly too long, I'm afraid). The sun is made of carrot shavings. The stems are tiny peices of celery. The roses are made of tomatoes that I picked from my garden this morning.

For the record, I don't suggest that you try to craft any shape out of tomato. They are a very difficult and unforgiving medium.

On the right side of the divider are porkchop cubes and pineapple skewered onto toothpicks. Below that are some slices of apple.

Again, if you've never had pineapple pork chops, you should really check out this post which has step-by-step photos to go with the recipe.

Barely Bento

In anticipation of my VERY busy week, I assembled three bentos last night that prove to be tasty, if not all that colorful.

Bento #24... Boca burger pattie with BBQ sauce on top of fried rice and brown rice with lentils:


Bento #25... Last night's dinner left-overs. Pineapple pork chops & Minute rice and some added brown rice with lentils:

Bento #26...More of the same:


If you've never had pineapple pork chops, you should try this recipe.